A representative may be required to intervene as Agent for and on
behalf of a Supplier. The contract then usually takes the form of a
Commercial Agency Agreement. The Supplier has total control over
sales and establishes, by means of the Agent, direct relations with
resellers or the end client, which becomes its client. The Agent
benefits from protective provisos during the course of the contract
execution and on termination.

Managing the relationship between a Supplier and a Distributor may
be effected by the formula of an Exclusive Purchasing Agreement: the
reseller undertakes to purchase solely, or almost exclusively the
products from the Supplier to the exclusion of competing products. In
return, the Supplier provides certain economic advantages that nonexclusive
purchasers do not have. The contract sets the terms under
which further sales-purchases shall take place. This kind of
arrangement allows a Supplier to set up a stream of business that
ensures an outlet for its products.